Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



William and Mark weren't quite sure how they managed to wrap up the meeting.

Yet, as soon as it ended, they made a quick exit, using the excuse of mingling with friends who were also at the cocktail party.

When the lounge was left with only Eileen, she glanced at the time, got up from the couch, and decided to leave. She had come today to meet with the responsible persons of A&T Group. Now that the business was taken care of, it was time for her to head back.

The party was not serving any food, and her stomach was growling in hunger.

As she moved towards the exit, her path was suddenly blocked. Eileen looked at the beaming middle-aged man in front of her and quickly identified him, "Zack?"

Zack was taken aback, "Ms. Lopez, you know me?"

Eileen smiled, "I have done my homework on all potential lenders to Ableson's companies."

Her message was clear. She didn't want anyone lending money to Ableson.

Zack, being a smart man, quickly reassured her, "Ms. Lopez, rest assured, my relationship with President Lopez is merely cordial."

Eileen raised an eyebrow, "Zack, your term might need a revision. Ableson is no longer the largest shareholder of Apex Synergy Group nor the CEO. It's no longer appropriate to refer to him as President Lopez. It could be mistaken as mockery."

Zack, knowing when to adapt, immediately corrected himself, "My apologies, Ms. Lopez, you are the rightful President Lopez."

Eileen's expression softened, "What can I do for you?"

Zack replied, "Actually, it's about your financial bidding with A&T Group. It's a big pie to swallow alone."

Eileen casually retorted, "What if I have a big appetite?"

Zack took a step forward, "President Lopez, let me be the first to pledge loyalty to you."

Eileen stared at Zack for a moment before smiling, "I'll think about it."

Zack extended his hand towards Eileen, praising her, "President Lopez, you're truly a prodigy. Your brilliance and talent will surely lead to a bright future!"

"I'll take that as a good omen," Eileen responded, shaking Zack's hand before turning to leave.

As Eileen exited the hall, an executive familiar with Zack approached him, scoffing, "Why are you so eager to please her? She's merely Ableson's adoptive daughter, and a celebrity at that. She's not cut out for business."

Zack gave the executive a glance and smirked, "The fact that you don't know how she did it only proves that she's playing at a level you could never reach. Besides, if she could trick that cunning Ableson and quietly seize the majority shares of Apex Synergy Group, do you really think she's just a naive girl?"

The executive chuckled, "I was just trying to spare you from betting on the wrong horse, but you don't appreciate it."

Zack shrugged, "What if I bet on the wrong horse? The worst outcome is that I won't get a slice of the bidding pie, which I wouldn't have gotten anyway. But if I bet on the right horse, a feast awaits me!"

The executive laughed dismissively, thinking Zack was being overly optimistic. Placing bets on a young woman, how far could she go? There were six shareholders in Apex Synergy Group; could they accept a mysterious young girl as their leader?

Who knew what kind of storm this would stir up?

Eileen, having reached the hallway outside the hall, pressed the elevator button. While waiting, she pulled out her phone and started browsing. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she saw Blake.

Eileen didn't say anything. She put down her phone and turned her gaze to the elevator's ascending numbers.

Blake held a cloak in his hand, which he extended towards Eileen, hesitating, "It's cold outside."

Eileen blinked in surprise before accepting the cloak. Holding it in her arms, she murmured a thank you.

Blake was rather encouraged by this. He had been worried that she wouldn't accept his gesture.

With the elevator still not arriving, Blake hesitated, wanting to say something to bridge the gap between them.

Eileen, however, broke the silence first, "Where's Egbert?"

Blake was taken aback. He turned to look at Eileen, whose impassive face was glowing in the light. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. Blake remembered what Egbert had said earlier--"She doesn't know I'm here."

Right, Eileen shouldn't know that Egbert was here. So was she bluffing now? Blake was torn. Should he tell the truth? Eileen and Egbert, who should he choose?

It was important to maintain a relationship with Eileen, but Egbert had helped them a lot recently. Plus, Egbert had been taking care of many things around Eileen.

Blake decided he couldn't betray Egbert. So, after a moment of contemplation, Blake made his choice, "He's in the lounge over there, in room number two. Should I take you to him, or should I drag him out here for you to deal with?"

Eileen was speechless at his offer.

The elevator finally arrived. Eileen stepped in, then turned around to tell Blake, "Please let him know that he's in deep trouble."

Blake nodded seriously, "I will deliver the message."

As the elevator doors were closing, Eileen softly said, "Thank you, big brother."

The doors closed completely. Outside the elevator, Blake stood frozen, staring at the closed doors.

Minutes later, in the lounge.

Blake paced back and forth in his room, muttering under his breath, "Did I mishear? But it sounded like 'Thank you, big brother.' Was it just my imagination? Egbert, what do you think?"

Blake turned and noticed Egbert was engrossed in studying the stock market. He inquired, "Did you hear what I said?" Without lifting his gaze from the A&T Group stock report, Egbert casually responded, "You probably didn't mishear."

Blake was taken aback, "But that doesn't make sense. How would she know I'm her big brother?"

Egbert shot Blake a glance, nonchalantly replying, "Ask your son."novelbin

Blake frowned, "Sawyer?"

His first thought when something went awry was always his eldest son, Sawyer.

"No, Simon Lopez," Egbert corrected.

His second son? Blake's expression turned grave.

Egbert then put down his phone, saying, "A few days ago, she called Simon. After that, she went to the Howard family's ancestral home to claim kinship. She threatened the Howard ancestors for over an hour, insisting they couldn't disown her even if she wasn't of Howard blood, even if she wasn't Captain Nathan Howard's direct descendant. She said she'd camp out on their graves and haunt them if they tried."

Blake was left speechless.

Egbert stood up, "I'll take my leave now."

Blake was still full of questions, but he relayed a message, "By the way, Eileen said before she left, 'you are in big trouble.""

Egbert didn't seem bothered, "Hmm."

Blake was stunned, "She found out you were following her. Aren't you worried?"

As Egbert opened the door to the lounge, he replied nonchalantly, "I didn't want her to discover me because I didn't want her to be upset. Now that she knows, it's not a big deal. She's not hard to please."

An hour later, at the Lopez residence.

When Egbert returned home, he found the door locked from the inside. After ringing the doorbell, the door finally opened.

Eileen, clad in her pajamas with her hair in a bun, peeked out. She blinked at the man outside.

Egbert asked softly, "Why did you lock the door?"

He tried to push the door open wider, but it wouldn't budge.

Eileen chuckled at Egbert, asking, "Egbert, do you remember the phrase you, Josephine, and Mr. Reed repeated most to me?"

Egbert stared at her, silent.

Eileen said, "You told me to treat this place like my own home and not to feel burdened."

Egbert nodded, raising an eyebrow, "So?"

Eileen's face suddenly changed. She snapped, "So, you stalker, you freak, you're not welcome in my home! Goodbye!" With that, she slammed the door right in Egbert's face!